Locomotive boiler



Feb. 13, 1934.

H. M. PFLAGER l' AL LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan.

8 Sheets-Sheet l IQQWM Feb. 13, 1934.

H. M. PFLAGER l' AL LOCOMOT IVE BOILER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. ll, 1932 Feb 13, 1934- H. M. PFLAGER ET AL 1,947,225

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. 1l, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 13, 1934. H. M. PFLAGER ET AL LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. ll, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 13, 1934.

H. M. PFLAGER ET AL LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. ll, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 mlm,

Feb. 13, H M' PFLAGER Er AL LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. 1l, 1932 /Sheets-Sheet 6 4/ @if {'fqf- 0 Feb. 13, 1934. H M. PFLAGER ET AL 1,947,225

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER N Filed Jan. ll, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Feb. 13, 1934. H M PFLAGER ET AL 1,947,225

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER the units with a multitude of water tubes and Fatenteci Feb. 13, 1934 PATENT FE LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Harry M.

Pflager, St. Louis, Mo., and Augustine R. Ayers, Cleveland, Ohio; said Pi-lager assignor of his entire rig ht to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 11, 1932. Serial No. 585,978 16 Claims. (Cl. 122-235) Oui' invention relates to railway rolling stock and particularly to locomotive boiler structure and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of boiler steam and water drums and headers, nre box and mud ring structure and assojposes and also requiring continual inspection and maintenance work.

The main object of our invention is to construct a high pressure, high capacity boiler by providing water and steam headers in heavy units, preferably of cast steel, and in connecting utilizing all the space between the headers and the tubes for the passage of heated air and gases from the fire box to the smoke stack, thus providing a greatly increased area of water containing chambers to which heat may be applied.

It is another object of our invention to construct a boiler providing for different degrees of expansion in its upper and lower portions due L to different temperatures at these parts.

Another object is to provide a locomotive boiler comprised of a number of cast members assembled together, any one of which may be replaced Without removing the locomotive from service for a substantial period.

Another object of our invention is to eliminate a large number of riveted joints where leakage may occur and, we attain this object by forming various parts, which previously have been made separately, in a single unitary structure.

There are a number of detail objects, incidental to the general objects set forth above, which will appear from the following description of the structure embodying our invention and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a top view of a locomotive boiler, the outer casing being sectioned.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the center line oi the boiler.

Figure 3 is a rear end view of the boiler with the boiler covering sectioned.

Figures 4, 5, 6, and '7 are vertical transverse sections taken on the corresponding section lines of I. Figure 2.

place by a familiar type of clamp shown .at C,

Figure 8 is a detail section of one of the joints between adjacent headers.

Figure 8a illustrates a modication of the same.

Figures 9 to 15 correspond to Figures 1 to '7 but 30 illustrate a modied structure, Figures 12 to 15 being transverse sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 9.

Figures 16 to 2l similarly illustrate another modification, Figures 19, 20, and 2l being sec- 65 tions on corresponding section lines of Figure 17.

Figures 22 to 26, inclusive are detail sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 21.

Figure 27 is a top view of the boiler, with the 70 covering sectioned, illustrating another modication of the invention.

Figure 23 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken on the line 28-28 of Figure 27.

Figures 29 and 30 are vertical transverse sec- 75 tions taken on the section lines 29-29 and 30-30 of Figure 28.

Figure 31 is a horizontal section showing the tube arrangement and is taken on the line 31-31 of Figure 28.

Figure 32 is an enlarged detail section of a connection between adjacent header members.

In the constructions shown in Figures l to 8 inclusive, we utilize a plurality of integral hollow castings to form substantial portions of the boiler 35 structure. One of these castings has a general U shape, the cross bar l of which constitutes a rear lower water header or rear mud ring section of the rebox, and the leg sections'2 of which form lower side headers or mud ring sections of 90 the firebox. These portions are of cylindrical section. The rear portion includes an upstand-` ing centrally located hollow extension 3 having a transverse opening 4 for receiving the fire door.

An upper header 5 extends from side to side of 95 the iirebox over the rear member l-3 and a'plurality of upright water tubes 6 connect these two castings.

Transverse header arms 5 are integral with a cylindrical drum 8 extending along the top of 10o the rebox and centrally thereof and merge with the drum in reinforcing curves of substantial radius. A plurality of water tubes 9 extend upwardly from the lower header sections2 and then Y curve inwardly to connect with the upper'drurn 8. 105. The header and drum member 5-8 has a cap 5a f,

.which may be an integral part or hte member" but, to facilitate casting and cleaning operations, may be formed separately and secured'in The tubes connecting one pair of y cumstances. With a row of plugged openings a6 to permit ac- At the front of the nrebox is a lower 'ransverse header section l and an drum section 11, the lower header l@ extending the full width of the boiler', and each section comprising a single hollow casting. The lower section l0 secured to the forward ends of header legs 2 and the upper section il is secured to the forward end of drum 8. f

Adjoining section 19 a section l2 or" a lower Water header extending from side to side of the combustion chamber' and adjoining section il is a section 13 of an upper steam drum. Sections 2 and 13 are connected by a plurality of 4er tubes 23 extending upwardly from the lower header l2 and then curving inwardly tc connes with the Lipper drum 13. Adjoining the front ends of sections l2 and i3 are a series of header sections i4 and 15, each including a hollow arm extending across the boiler and a portion for connection with the adjacent section. The entire boiler n'iay consist of a series of similar sections, as sections i4 and 15, or a number of sections may be combined in larger units as 16, 16a, i7 and i8, each having a series of projecting arms spaced apart longitudinally of the boiler.

The upper and lower headers are connected by a plurality of water tubes 23e exposed to the hot gases passing from the iirebex to the srnokebox. arins are in staggered relation with the tubes or the adjacent pair of arms so as to break up the streams of het gases and thereby inost eiectively extract the heat therefrom. It is to be understood that the lengths of these header sections may be varied to suit different designs of boilers and to accommodate manufacturing conditions which may favor longer or shorter castings under certain cir- Each transverse arm provided cess to the interior of the header to facilitate securing the ends of the tubes 6 and 23a in the seats.

The header 18, which terminates the upper header series, includes an upwardly extending enlargement 19 forniing a steam dome. Preferably, an outlet dry steam pipe 2) is forrned integrally With the dome and header structure and terniinates in a ilange portion 2l adapted to be con- {nected to a superheater header 22.

The superheater tubes 25 are vertically disposed and are distributed throughout ue boiler chamber in front of the water tube chamber. 'Ihe tubes 25 extend the full depth of the boiler and the steam is caused to circulate through the tubes 25 by means of suitable partitions .in he header 22. The discharge end ci the header has an outlet 26'which branches into the ste-ain con duits 2'7 leading to the main steam cylinders (not shown).

Adjacent header castings are shown as welded together, as illustrated in detail in Figure 8, but suitable bolting flanges and coo Jerating bolts or rivets may be used as shown in Figure 8a, The

. joints may include spherical or tapered bushings as shown in Figures 23, 25 and 26 referred to later.

The boiler is provided with an outer cover 24 of any suitable construction which preferably is fitted with insulation 29.

In the construction shown in Figures 9 to 15, the central upper drum 3G has lateral arms 31 spaced below the boiler covering 32 and its steam dome extension 33 is located intermediate the ends of the boiler. Dry steam pipes 34 are located in the space above arms 31 and present a substantial length of surface exposed to the heated gases above the tubes and transverse headers.

The superheater tubes 35 extend downwardly and rearwardly from the header 36 and project between the vertical Water tubes 37. The

sections 58 and 59 of the boiler headers are shown ovided with iianges 38 and 39, respectively, ereby adjacent sections may be fastened together as indicated in Figure 8a.

The icrrn shown in Figures 16 to- 24 inclusive, has a pair of spaced loneitudinal upper drums 4G and 41, each comprising' a plurality of cast sections of suitable lengths with integral connections 52. Some of these sections have integral transverse arms 42 extending outwardly to the side of the boiler. A pair of headers 43 and 44 in the lower part of the boiler comprise similar sections with integral transverse arms 45. Tubes 46 connect arms 45 with arms 42 or with drums 4l) and 4l.

The upper header sections are secured together by means o1 lugs or ilanges 47 and 48, and bolts 49 and 50. The lugs may be located on adjacent ends of abutting sections, in which case short bolts, as at 49, would be used, or the lugs may be located on spaced sections permitting the use of longer bolts, as at 5G. Lugs 48 and 49 are placed above .s 42 in order to be removed from the direct path of gases in the boiler. Spherical or tapered bushings 5i are inserted in the joints between the adjacent sections.

The lower headers are secured together by means of bolts 53 inserted in suitable recesses 54 extending transversely through arms 45. These bolts 53 can be long enough to extend through several arrns if desired. As in the case oi the upper headers just described, the joints between the cast sections are sealed by spherical or tapered bushings 55.

This modification is in other respects similar to the forms iirst described. Portions of both the upper and lower headers will be exposed to hot flue gases while the connecting bolts and lugs will be substantially protected therefrom. However, consequent expansion of the header sections will tend to tighten the joints and more effectively prevent leaks.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 27 to S2, the superheater is located intermediate the ends of the boiler and the boiler longitudinal drum section has a series of transverse superheater headers 61 depending therefrom and projecting laterally thereof. Superheater tubes 62 extend downwardly from headers 61 and are exposed to the ue gases at a point much nearer to the nrebox 63 than the superheater tubes in the previously described forms of the invention. Drum 60 also includes the integral steam dome portion 64 from which steam passes from the drum to the rear superheater header 61 through an integral pipe 65. Dry steam pipes 66 lead from the forward superheater header 61 to the throttle valve 67 and from there through pipes 68 to the cylinder valves (not shown).

As indicated in Figure 3l the lower portion of the boiler consists of a plurality of sections including drums 70, 71, '72, and 73. Drum section '70 is immediately in iront of the :rebox 63 and includes a series of transverse headers 74, the outer ends or which are interconnected by side drums 75. Water tubes '76 extend from side drums upwardly and inwardly to connect directly with central longitudinal header '77.

Drum 71 has transverse headers 78 provided throughout their lengths with a plurality of water tubes 79 which connect with transverse headers 80 extending lateraly from the'central upper drum 81. Abreast of the superheaten. the lower drum 72 has side drums 82 similar to the corresponding parts of the rear section and tubes 83 lead upwardly and over the superheater tubes 62 and then inwardly to connectwithdrum 60. Section '73 in front of the superheater is provided with headers 84 which mount another bank of tubes 85 corresponding to tubes-79 similarly connected to transverse headers 87 extending laterally from the upper central header 86.

This modification also illustrates another method of securing adjacent sections together, as indicated, by inturned anges 88 on headers 60, 77, 81, and 86. These flanges bolt together as indicated in Figure 32 and the bolts are subjected only to steam temperatures and are protected from the higher temperatures and other deterioration which would arise from direct contact with the ue gases.

Obviously, many other changes in the contour p and arrangements of the headers and in their assembly may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Many of the header castings may be made uniform, if desired, to facilitate replacement. Also, various castings may be secured together entirely by welding, or parts requiring occasional renewal may be bolted or riveted together.

The exclusive use of all modifications of the described structure which come within the scope of our claims is contemplated.

We claim:

l. A locomotive boiler header structure comprising a series of header sections, each adjacent pair of sections having centrally located opposing bolting flanges spaced from the adjacent faces of the sections, a bushing between said sections, said bushing having its outer surface tapered in opposite directions and fitting within the adjacent open ends of said sections, and bolt elements cooperating with said flanges to draw .together said sections and cause the same to tightly engage said bushing, each of said headers including elongated hollow arms extending outwardly in opposite directions from said bolting flanges.

2. In a locomotive boiler, a plurality of spaced header structures each including a hollow arm portion extending transversely of the boiler, a cylindrical drum portion extending longitudinally of the boiler, and bolting flanges, spherically shaped bushings tting within the adjacent open ends of said drum portions, and bolt elements cooperating with said anges to draw together said structures and cause said drum portions to tightly engage said bushings, there being substantial spaces between adjacent arm portions.

3. In a locomotive boiler, a castmetal lower structure forming a rectangular base extending from side to side of the boiler and having'hollow side headers and hollow transverse headers connecting said side headers, a cast metal upper structure forming a central longitudinal member, water tubes extending from the side headers oi said lower structure upwardly and inwardly to said upper structure, and superheater headers integral with said upper structure with tubes depending therefrom substantially the depth of the boiler, there being water headers and tubes below, at each side of,` and above said superheater tubes. 5

4. A locomotive boiler device comprising a water and steam drum with an upper extension intermediate its ends forming a steam dome andv a lower extension forming a superheater header, there being a dry steam pipe leading from said dome through said water and steam drum to said header.

5. An integral cast metal header structure for a locomotive boiler comprising a hollow part forming a portion of a continuous drum section and a plurality of hollow arms projecting on each side from said hollow part and spaced from each other and having water tube seats.

6. An integral cast metal header structure for a locomotive boiler comprising an elongated transverse water receiving part having tube seats, a central enlargement forming a longitudinal water drum section, a bulge in the upper wall of said enlargement forming a steam collecting dome, and a dry steam pipe section integral with the wall of said enlargement and extending from inside said bulge to a point outside said structure.

7. In a locomotive boiler, an elongated hollow header extending across a lower edge of the re box, elements on said header for supporting the same on the locomotive underframe, the central portion of said header being enlarged upwardly and recessed to form a re door opening, a header extending across the upper edge of said re box above said rstfmentioned header, and tubes connecting said headers, certain of said tubes connecting with said enlargement and others at the sides of said enlargement extendliOng substantially from top to bottom of the re 8. In a locomotive boiler, lower headers including transverse members extending across the boiler and longitudinal members between the extremities of said transverse members, an uppersuperheater header structure, superheater tubes depending from said last-mentioned header, a steam header above said superheater header, and water tubes connecting said lower headers and said steam header, there being water and steam tubes and headers below, above, and on all sides of said superheater tubes.

9. In a locomotive boiler, a lower water header including spaced. transverse members, a superheater header above the same with depending superheater tubes, a water or steam header above said superheater header and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof, and water tubes connecting said lower header and said upper Water or steam header, there being water or steam tubes and headers above, below, and forwardly and rearwardly of said superheater tubes.

l0. A header structure. for a locomotive boiler including a transverse part forming a superheater header,4V a longitudinal drum section, there being a steam dome on the upper surface of said section immediately above said part, and a dry steam pipe extending from said superheater header part into said dome.

11. In a locomotive boiler, a superheater header with superheater tubes projecting therefrom, a steam drum above said superheater header, water tubes forwardly and rearwardly of said superheater tubes andcgnnected with said steam drum, a steam dome onv said drum immediately above said superheater header, and a dry steam pipe supported by saidfdrum and including a part extending into said dome and parts extending transversely through the walls of said drum and connected with said superheater header.

12. A locomotive boiler integral cast metal structure comprising a longitudinal steam drum 'sei Sel

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section, an arm disposed transversely thereof and forming a superheater header, there being a bulge in the wall of said section forming a steam dome immediately above said arm, and a dry steam pipe with an end inside said dome and a part extending through the wall of said section and connecting with said arm.

13. A locomotive boiler header comprising a pair of separately formed parts each including a hollow section having a bolt receiving passage extending through its fluid chamber and sealed therefrom, and bolt head or nut engaging elements on the exterior of said sections, and bolts cooperating with said elements to secure together said parts.

14. In combination in a locomotive nre box, a one piece hollow header of substantially inverted T shape having a cross bar extending from side to side oi the fire box and a wide upright intermediate the end of said cross bar, there being alined openings in the front and rear walls oi .said upright with a continuous integral web extending through the upright at the edges of said openings to form a re door, a header extending transversely of the re box and spaced a substantial distance above said first-mentioned header, and a plurality of water tubes extending between said upper header and the upper walls of the cross bar and upright of said nist-mentioned header.

15. In a locomotive boiler, a lower structure extending irom side to side of the boiler and including spaced side headers and transverse headers connecting` the same, an upright structure forining a longitudinal member intermediate the vertical planes of said side headers, water tubes extending Irom said side headers upwardly and inwardly to said upper structure, and a superheater including a header connected with said upper structure and including tubes depending therefrom for substantially the depth of the boiler, there being water headers and Water tubes below, at each side of, and above said superheater tubes.

16. In a locomotive boiler, a header structure comprising a continuous hollow drum part and a plurality oi relatively shallow elongated spaced apart arms extending transversely of said drum part, there being a plurality of transversely spaced upright water tubes extending downwardly fro i said arms, the spaces between said arms and said Water tubes being open from top to bottom of the structure to provide for the free passage of the products of combustion over substantially the entire area of said arms and tubes.

H. M. PFLAGER. AUGUSTINE R. AYERS. l 

